Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-02-25
Soldiers Friend.

at the beginning Of the war it was
my fortune to be in the army CT the
vest. We were camped at Cairo, ut tbs
mouth of the Ohio River. The Rehs
held a strong Fort 90 miles south at
Columbus, also had force on the op-
posite bank Of the river at Belmont.
Here was the frst battle where ] saw
blood. The troops with the wounded
returned TO Cairo and here I first heard |
of Mrs. Logan who was as careful and
considerate of the wounded as if they
had been her own dear boys. So it was
with Logan from che beginning. He
was brave and fearless though gener-
GUS and kind. Il was said by some he
would be disloy1l. His friends in Ill.
urged him to leave the army and 60 to
congress. What was his reply? mo
am to-day soldier Of this Republic
So to remain changeless and immuta-
bic until her last and weakest enemy
shall have expired and passed away.
have entered the field to die if neces-
sary for this government, and never
expect to return to peaceful pursuits
until the object of this war jof preser-
walton has become s. fact established.
Should fate so ordain it, wil esteem
it the highest privilege just dispenser
can award, to shed the last drop of
blood in my veins for the honor of that
flag whose emblems are Justice, Liber-
ty and Truth, and which has been, and
AS l humbly trust in God, ever will be,
for the right"
Does this look anything like disloy-
! atty? Those words he uttsred were
| his actual sentiments to the end.
We havo recently commemorated
the death of the soldiers friend as we'll
as that of nation. 1t was his tender
ness of nature that made him the friend
of every soldier in the war. In quiet
times of peace we forget those who
fought for US. But Logan did not.
Fle carried the years of war through
each receding decade, and lived among
it's stirring memories. He maintained
close relation to this veterans. He was
three times elected commander-in-
chief of the Grand Army Of the Repub-
lie. To-day over $4,000 veterans of
the Grand Army of the Republic from
5000 posts, feel that they have lost a
friend. To-day 100000 widows and
orphans breath prayer to heaven for
the peace of his soul. To-day $4,000
soldiers slain IN the war gather around
the soul of Logan and thank him that
each returning 30th of May their
graves are not forgotten but are cover
ed with flowers. The designation of
that day for memorial services was
suggested by Logan, and he was wont
to say: cit was the proudest act Of my
life" and to-day could the 350,000 pa
triotlc dead arise from their graves,
each with memorial flower in his
hand, there would rise a floral noun
tain to the skies, the perfume of which
would ascend in gratitude to the God
OF battles. Logan deserved such 4
monument of flowers. Logan was a
member of the Grand Army of the Re-
public He was a Mason and had
climbed the topmost round of that
grand and magnanimous order Knights
Templar. lie was also u member Of
NJ E Church where, on the last Sabbath
| hi hi fo
Dy his side he received the tokens of a
saviors love- L was his last sacrament
On earth. On last memorial day he de-
livered an grafton on immortality, and
in that glorious hope he died. Well
might his friends weep at their own
us we'll as their country's loss. Indeed
| ne was man of whom all may speak
IN praise, and upon whose bier all may
lrop tear of sorrow. When earth re-
| .eived him she took to her bosom one
of her manly sons, and when paradise
Dade his spirit come, noble one enter
ed there. Time brings lessons that
teach us that hope does not perish when
she stars of life refuse longer 10 give
light.
The death Of our cornrade and those
still closely following him, should con,
stantly warn US Of the fact, that we are
travelling to the undis covered country
from whose bourne no traveller returns ;
IT'S true the grave in It's silence
gives forth no voice, nor whispers OF
the morrow, but there is = voice borne
upon the lips of the morning Zephyra
that let's fan g whisper, quickening the
heart with knowledge that thereis an
abode beyond the tomb.
Friends and comrades orr lamps are
burning now, some more brightly than
others; some from the mountains top,
others from the lowly wales; but let US
SO trim then that they may burn with
equal brilliancy when relighted in our
mansions beyond the mysterious river.
Comrades, he has gone from us but hs
| will not be forgotten for in the Ocean